Panjim: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Thursday submitted a roadmap for immediate economic revival of the State to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, demanding a package of Rs 100 crores giving assistance to various sectors, which are drastically affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic enforced lockdown.
In his submission, Kamat urged government to cut its wasteful expenditure with immediate effect, including postponement of all activities pertaining to National Games, International Film Festival of India (IFFI), promotional events of tourism department, purchase of vehicles, construction of monuments and memorials.
“The Roadmap, prepared in consultation with stakeholders, is an earnest attempt to draw the much needed attention of the Government to revive the ‘falling economy” of the State,” former Chief Minister said reiterating the demand for release of White Paper on the financial condition of the State.
Kamat said that the roadmap covers literally all sectors of the society including farmers, motorcycle pilots, taxis, rickshaws, bakers, barbers, gadda and kiosk operators in municipal areas and on KTC bus stands and railways stations, mechanics, beauty parlours and saloons, ‘fulkars’, ‘khajekars’, ‘kalaikars and Kakankars’, ‘poders’, journalists and newspaper industry and its associates, students, ‘bhatjis and priests’, actors, musicians, singers, tiatrists, renders, ‘kumbhars’, ‘swarn karagirs’ and others.
“I would like to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister that if this package of Rs 100 crores is immediately released in the local economy, the hardships of the Goans will be eased and the same money will be circulated back into the economy having its multiplier effects,” he said.
Kamat demanded that traditional Goan businesses like that of motorcycle pilots (around 1,100), rickshaw owners (around 1,200), rent-a-bike service operators, small hotels, tea stalls, small taverns, small garages and wash stations, salons and beauty parlours, repair shops, vegetable and fruit vendors be provided two months financial support of at least Rs. 10,000 per month per unit.
He said that one-time-settlement of Rs 25,000 each be provided to small entrepreneurs operating black and yellow taxis (around 750), the white taxi operators, tempo and private bus operators, ‘gaddekars’ (small road -side eateries), local urrack/feni distillers and the lease holders of shops at the KTC bus stand, municipal markets and railway stations who are typically registered.
Kamat has also urged the government for an instant re-notification and immediate implementation of the earlier “Scheme for Local Craftsman and Traditional Goan Occupations” (Goemche Daiz).
He also sought immediately implementation of a scheme to financially support professional artists, to include groups of ‘bhajani mandals’, tiatrists, church choir and ‘kirtankars’, ‘bandkars and vajantris’, ‘dashavatari mandals’, live bands performing at shacks and restaurants, professional stage groups (around 2,500 units) with one-time support of Rs. 20,000 each.
Support with one-time subsistence of Rs 10,000 each to over 1500 religious service providers including the Bhatji’s, the temple and church servants, flower and candle sellers, etc, financial support of Rs 5000 per month for three months to journalists, newspaper agents, etc.
Kamat said that government should provide ‘General Educational Assistance Package’ to support the expenses of the students whose parents have no government jobs and dependable income sources.
